State

The Aluminum Plont from across the lake, at Badin, N. C. June 2, 1934 Page Twenty-one MAKING ALUMINUM - By MAJEL IVEY SEAY - THERE’S romance in the story of the making of aluminum. If you don't believe it, just go down to Badin, the Aluminum City, where one of the largest reduction plants in the country is located and see for yourself how the shining metal is made. More than fifty years ago. a young mining engineer from England real¬ ized that the power at the Narrow’s could he harnessed for man's use. The Narrows is that section of the Yadkin River where for more than two miles the waters are hemmed in a passage about sixty feet wide, hewn through the rock cliffs. A power project was started but after many misfortunes, it finally col¬ lapsed. Another company at last took up the construction work. Thousands of acres wore flooded, four great lakes created and the largest spillway dam in the world built across the river. The water which the dam holds back is the largest artificial lake in the South — a lake so vast that it took thirty days to fill it. So much electricity is harnessed by this dam and another one two miles below it that it lights the homes and runs the factories of some of North Carolina’s leading cities. The Caro¬ lina Aluminum Company, which owns the plant, uses more electrical power than any city in the state. The actual work of producing the pig aluminum takes place in the fur¬ nace rooms, or “Pot Rooms,” as they are called. The furnaces are very hard to start again after they have cooled, so the operation of a Pot Room is continuous, the work being divided into three eight-hour shifts. There is a special carbon plant for making the carbons used as electrodes. This plant is within itself a mammoth factory. Practically all the work is done by roaring, pounding machines, many of which are of giant propor¬ tions. It is fascinating to watch the huge press manipulate the carbon and finally push out from its maw a per¬ fectly-shaped carbon. So expertly do the men control the machines that they operate with almost human cleverness. Pots and pans arc not all that is made from aluminum. An enterpris¬ ing citizen of Badin has an awning made of the up-and coming metal. It is said that it also is being used for living room furniture. The progressive town of Badin is built around the Aluminum Plant, which is the main industry. Both working and living conditions are a» nearly ideal ns it is possible to make them. There arc clean surroundings, comfortable homes, excellent educa¬ tional conditions, proper health safe¬ guards, plenty of opportunities for different kinds of recreation, and churches for the development of the spiritual side of life. You won’t find any labor troubles in the Badin organization. Because of the big-hen rtedness of the execu¬ tives, who live close enough to the workmen to understand their troubles, share in their joys and help in their sorrows, many of the workmen have boon with the Company since work was first commenced. Department heads and superintendents are always available for a conference with any workman, black or white, to discuss any trouble which he may have and to assist in its remedy. The homes of the workmen are quaint affairs, due to the fact that they wero built by a French company which operated the plant at one time. The houses are long and narrow, one room wide and with a very steep roof. The greater number of houses have entrances at different levels. Incidentally, the back waters at Badin have boon stocked with fish which are yours for the angling that is, if you have a license. THE VOICE OF LINKHAW ( Continued from jrnge two) of his acts, but here the presumption is rebutted by a fact admitted by the State. “It would scorn that the* defendant is a proper subject for the discipline of his church, but not for the discipline of the courts.” So that ended the legal side of the question. It is told that when the church made Linkhaw a subject of discipline by threatening to expel him if he didn't uit making so damned much noise, it nally dawned upon him that his sing¬ ing wasn’t being appreciated by the membership the way it should havo been. So he got mad. and swore that he wouldn’t sing another note, no matter how hard the others might plead and beseech. After that, everything was quiet and peaceful in that* section of Roltfson County. FISHING CHANNEL BASS AND OTHER FISHING April to December WE PROVIDE EVERYTHING FOR FISHING PARTIES. WRITE W. D. GASKILl, Proprietor PAMLICO INN Ocrocoke, N. C.